Next Exit, Three Miles

by CW Browning

  “They call this a car,” she replied dryly.

  Stephanie snorted inelegantly and walked up to it, peeking into the passenger’s window.

  “This is not just any car,” she retorted. “It’s a Camaro.”

  “It’s a guy-car,” Angela muttered behind them and Alina suppressed a grin.

  Angela was one hundred percent Jersey girl. She wouldn’t dream of leaving the house without make-up, she lived in high-heels, and her nails and hair were always perfect. Her opinion of nature could be summed up in one word: outdoors. And that’s where she didn’t spend a lot of time. Unless it involved the beach, Angela had no time for nature. When they were younger, Alina often wondered why they were such great friends. As she got older, she realized that, although Angela was very much a girly-girl, she had a temper and mind like a man. And that was where they were the same.

  “It’s gorgeous,” Stephanie stated, stepping back and admiring the car. “Just what exactly do you do again?” she demanded.

  Alina laughed.

  “I’m a consultant,” she answered. “Don’t worry. It’s not stolen.”

  “I’m not grand theft,” Stephanie retorted. “And if you think I’m not riding with you in this, you’re crazy.”

  She moved back to the passenger door and stood there expectantly. Alina glanced at Angela.

  “I’ll drive my own car, thanks,” she said. “You can follow me.”

  Alina nodded and unlocked the car for Stephanie to get in. She went around to get in the driver side and watched as Angela walked to her car. When she reached her silver BMW, Alina started the car. The engine came to life with a roar and Stephanie sighed.

  “It's not fair,” she said. “I would love to drive something like this. Instead, I have a Maxima.”

  Alina laughed and eased forward as Angela pulled out of her parking spot.

  “So buy a new car,” she retorted.

  “Eventually, I will,” Stephanie said. “Right now, I’m just too focused on work.”

  “So what's the story with this Angelo character?” Alina asked.

  Stephanie shrugged.

  “We’re not really sure yet,” she answered. “He was hit professionally with a double tap to the back of the head and then chucked into the river with a cement block. There was storm a few days ago and the current must have pulled him loose. Forensics is working on it.”

  “And this other agency?” Alina asked.

  “It's just that. Another agency.” Stephanie frowned. “I don’t mind working with other departments, but I’m not even being told what department it is! I was just told that the guy will be here Monday morning to help with the investigation. I’ll tell you what, I’m starting to appreciate how local law enforcement feels about Feds now.” Alina was silent and Stephanie glanced at her. “I just told you way too much, so I am trusting you to keep it to yourself.”

  “Of course,” Alina replied.

  “And, I still want to know what kind of consulting you do,” Stephanie added.

  Alina smiled slightly and was silent.

  Chapter Two

  The bar was crowded when they arrived and Alina instinctively scanned every face in the crowd as they moved through it. Angela was forging a path to the bar and Alina followed. Stephanie brought up the rear, fighting to keep the grin off her face as they moved through the throng of over-worked attorneys and feds. Men had discarded their jackets, loosened their ties and ordered one too many Manhattans. The women still had their suit jackets and stilettos on, making a valiant effort to keep up with the men. All around them the conversation flowed in waves, and Stephanie watched as people unconsciously moved out of Alina’s way without even noticing that she was passing. She watched the back of her old friend’s head as they moved toward the bar and wondered again what she had been doing all these years. She moved with a confidence and precision that Stephanie had never seen before, almost as if she were untouchable, and people naturally responded to that forceful energy coming from her without the slightest realization that they were doing so.

  “Stephanie, there’s John,” Angela called back over her shoulder, motioning to the back of the long room. Stephanie followed her gaze and picked out her partner in the back corner, his back against the wall, surrounded by a mix of co-workers and women.

  “Typical,” Stephanie returned.

  Angela came to stop before the crowded bar.

  “I’ll get the first round,” she announced, pulling two bills out of her purse. “What are you drinking? And Alina, I do mean alcohol.”

  “I...”

  “No objections!” Stephanie interrupted her before she could speak. “This is a homecoming celebration. You can have at least one drink!”

  “But I....” Alina opened her mouth again.

  “No buts!” Angela retorted. “If you don’t pick something, I will!” she added threateningly.

  Alina sighed.

  “I was trying to say that I would have a vodka tonic with lemon,” she finally got out.

  Angela and Stephanie stared at her, then started laughing.

  “Ok then!” Angela motioned the bartender. “This lady will have a vodka tonic with lemon!”

  Alina watched as the bartender leaned forward to hear the rest of the order before turning away to make the drinks. A heavy-set man next to her with sweat marks at his arm pits and a side-holster that had seen better days looked at her and nodded with a smile, moving out of the way so that she could take his spot at the bar. Alina smiled slightly in thanks and moved seamlessly into his spot. She watched as the bartender made their drinks, taking her attention from him only when she sensed, rather than heard, a presence behind her.

  “And what brings you lovely ladies into this disreputable establishment?” a long forgotten voice spoke behind them, causing Alina’s spine to stiffen slightly. She felt like she had been knocked in her sternum with the thicker end of a baseball bat, a feeling she hadn't felt in years.

  “John, you aren’t the only one who gets a night out once in a while,” Stephanie retorted.

  “I would never claim that I was!” John replied. “Hello Angela. How are you?”

  “Same as always, John, awaiting your imminent demise,” Angela retorted, accepting her drink from the bartender and reaching for Stephanie’s.

  “You’re warming up to me. I can tell, you know,” John answered with a laugh.

  Angela turned to hand Stephanie her drink.

  “Whatever lets you sleep at night, darling,” Angela shot back.

  Alina bit back a grin and reached out to accept her vodka tonic from the bartender. Then, with a deep sigh, she turned to face her past.

  John Smithe stood before her, looking a little older and a little more solid than the last time she saw him. There were new lines on his face, and he had a certain grimness about the mouth that she recognized instantly as the habitual crease of a law enforcement agent. He still had the same sandy blond hair and the same pale blue eyes, but Alina noticed with detached interest that they no longer pulled a responsive twinkle from her. In fact, Alina was rather stunned to realize that she felt absolutely nothing for the tall man standing before her.

  The man she had once been engaged to marry.

  “Hello Alina.” John smiled his best ‘I’m-not-sure-how-I-should-act’ smile and stepped forward to attempt a hug. Alina stopped him simply by looking at him.

  “Hello John,” she greeted him with a slight smile. “It's been a long time.”

  “Too long!” John agreed, motioning to the bartender for another beer. “Where did you disappear to? One day you were just “POOF” gone!”

  “Now why does that sound so familiar?” Alina murmured, just low enough that John was the only one to hear. He looked down at her, his blue eyes inches from hers.

  “Oh, now that wasn’t very fair,” he murmured back. “Don’t tell me you’re still holding a grudge over a boy's mistake ten years ago?”

  Alina studied his face for a moment. He was standin
g close enough that she could feel his body heat and, at one point in time, that would have been enough to make her consider her response, and maybe even flirt a little. But not anymore. Alina saw before her a part of her past and nothing more. She smiled into his eyes.

  “I’ve moved past that,” she murmured. “And lucky for you that I have,” she added thoughtfully, lifting her glass to her lips.

  A brief look of surprise flashed across John’s face before an emotionless mask slid into place.

  “Well, now that THAT’S over....whatever that was....” Stephanie pushed between them. “Can we play nice while she’s in town, or will I have to keep you two separate?”

  “You’ll have no problems from me,” John answered, handing the bartender some bills for his beer. “The past is the past.” He glanced once more at Alina and smiled. “More’s the pity,” he added for her ears alone.

  Alina made no response and he took his beer and disappeared back into the crowd.

  “Well, that went well, I think,” Stephanie said cheerfully, holding her glass up. “To new beginnings.”

  “New beginnings.” Angela laughed, raising her glass up and Alina smiled with grudging humor, touching her glass to theirs.

  As she lifted her glass to her lips, her eyes scanned the crowded bar again. Suddenly her breath paused as she sipped the drink and her body stilled. There was that familiar feeling, one that always served her so well in the past. It caused a tingling at the base of her skull and the fine hairs on the back of her shoulders rose up as a chill coursed across them. Her military comrades had called it her sixth sense, but she always just thought of it as her instincts.

  And they were all screaming now.

  Alina lowered the glass and scanned the bar again, seeing nothing different since the last time she had looked. But something was very different.

  Someone was watching them.

  “Oh for God’s Sake!” Stephanie exclaimed, setting her glass down on the bar and reaching into her shoulder bag. “You would think that they could leave me alone for at least one night!” she added, hauling out her cell phone.

  Alina glanced at Angela, who was shaking her head.

  “You better drink up,” she advised Alina before doing just that herself. “I’m actually surprised we went this long before a call. Our friend is a workaholic and everyone in her department knows it and takes advantage of it.”

  “What about her partner?” Alina nodded toward the back corner where John was laughing at something the stocky man next to him was saying.

  “John?” Angela snorted. “He ignores his phone until she calls him.”

  It was clear that Angela’s opinion of John had not improved over the years. She never had cared much for him, even when Alina had been about to walk down the aisle with him.

  “I’m sorry, girls.” Stephanie dropped her phone back into her bag and quickly drained her martini. “There was an accident at one of the train crossings and the senior agent in place thinks it may be related to my floater.”

  She set her glass on the bar and reached into her bag to pull out her keys. Alina tossed back the rest of her drink, waiting for Stephanie to remember that she had driven her to the bar.

  “Why don’t we set something up for next weekend?” Stephanie suggested. “Is everybody free? Maybe dinner at my house? I feel bad, but I really have to run.”

  “I think I’m free next Saturday. I'll double check my schedule when I get home,” Angela replied.

  She watched with a grin as Stephanie nodded distractedly and turned to leave, keys in hand. Alina raised an eyebrow and glanced at Angela. The two women stood there, watching as Stephanie started to make her way through the crowd.

  “Ok. Alina, let me know about next week!” Stephanie called over her shoulder. “Bye!”

  And the crowd swallowed her up.

  “How long do you give her before she remembers?” Alina asked, leaning back against the bar.

  “Not until she gets outside and tries to find her car,” Angela replied with a laugh. “You really could save her time by meeting her outside, instead of making her come back in.”

  Alina sighed.

  “Yes, but it's not nearly as fun!” she replied, and realized with a shock that she meant it. She was having more fun tonight than she had in years.

  “Lina!” Angela nudged her. “Come on!”

  “Oh fine.”

  Alina straightened up and began moving toward the door. She still felt someone watching them and took one final look around. But the only person she saw was John, watching them leave from his back corner.

  Alina got out of the car, taking in the scene of controlled chaos before her. They were at a railroad crossing in Palmyra along River Road, a few miles down from Riverside. Police cars were angled everywhere and large spotlights were trained on the intersection where a freight train hauling logs and metal containers was stopped. A crowd of emergency personnel was clustered in front of the train and Alina didn’t have to look too closely to know what had happened.

  “I hope they got the body out already,” Stephanie said, walking to the front of the car and joining Alina. Although they couldn’t see the car, there was no doubt that one was there. “I get light-headed when they have to pry them out.”

  “Understandable,” Alina murmured, leaning back on the hood of her car and crossing her arms over her chest. “Does this happen often?”

  “No.” Stephanie sighed. “This is only my second.” She straightened her shoulders and turned to head toward the crowd. “You don’t have to stay. I can get a ride home from one of the others.”

  “It's ok,” Alina answered. “I’m kind of curious.” she added with a grin.

  Stephanie shook her head.

  “Morbid,” she retorted. “Let me see what the story is and I'll be back. I’ll let them know not to bother you.”

  Stephanie disappeared into the crowd of officials.

  The track crossing was in a fairly busy section of town, with restored businesses lining Main Street on one side of the tracks and restored Victorian homes on the other. This intersection had a bank and an antique store on the corners of one side, and a pastry shop and dry cleaners on the corners of the other side. The streets were well lit on either side of the tracks and brick sidewalks told the story of restored elegance. Palmyra had worked hard to restore the town to its historical brilliance, and Alina was surprised at the success. When she had left ten years ago, Palmyra had been a worn out and tired town. Now, it appeared to be making a valiant effort to clean itself up.

  Alina straightened up and wandered toward the sidewalk. She noted the clusters of residents that were standing along the sidewalk, watching the drama being enacted on their doorstep. They were all chattering in low voices, trying to determine if anyone had actually seen the car get hit by the train. Alina moved into the crowds silently, observing everyone and getting another look at the accident from different angles. The right guard that came down to block the tracks when the train was passing had been ripped off its anchor, and one of the red flashing lights was shattered. Thick tire marks on the road led up to the tracks, and Alina paused to glance back and see where they started before continuing to move past the small pockets of residents.

  “I was sitting drinking my tea with Harry when I heard what sounded like a backfire,” a woman was telling her neighbor, “and then the most awful screeching.”

  “I thought it was Victors darn movie that he had cranked up so loud,” the neighbor responded, shaking her head. “I yelled at him to turn it down, but he had already muted the TV.”

  “I hope there were no children in that car,” another woman was saying.

  Alina moved away and back towards her car. Some teenage boys had walked up to it and were peering through the windows. She moved up behind them silently.

  “It doesn't really transform,” she said dryly. The three boys jumped and swung around.

  “We know that,” one said with a nervous laugh. “It’s a sweet rid
e.”

  “It would be sweeter without your paw prints all over it,” Alina answered.

  The boys shuffled out of her way and away from the car. Alina leaned against her car and looked around.

  Someone was still watching her. She could feel it.

  “Well, they have an initial confirmation on the body.” Stephanie joined her a few moments later. “Looks like it's someone who has been on my watch list for quite some time.” She leaned back against the hood and the two of them watched as the coroners’ van came to life and slowly pulled away from the collection of emergency vehicles clustered around the tracks.

  “And?” Alina asked.

  “I have to wait for the official confirmation, but if it's him, this case just became a huge headache of red tape and supers breathing down my neck,” Stephanie muttered. She glanced at Alina. “Are you sure you don’t want to leave? I want to wait for some of these people to clear out of here so I can get a better look at the scene.”

  “I have nowhere to be right now,” Alina assured her with a grin. “And if I did, I would leave. Did you see the shattered flasher light?”

  “Yes.” Stephanie followed Alina’s gaze to the broken red light and guard rail.

  “My guess is you’ll find a bullet went through it, probably a .308 or NATO round,” Alina said. “Probably fired from the roof of the antique store behind us. You'll find that two of the street lights are out too.”

  “What makes you say that?” Stephanie glanced behind them and followed the trajectory from the roof to the crossing with her eyes.

  “Because it's what I would have done.” Alina straightened. “This was a professional hit. It was clean and quick. The neighbors all heard the same version of the same thing in a very small space of time. There were no mistakes and no clumsiness.”

  “I leave you alone for ten minutes and you already have a theory for me.” Stephanie shook her head. “What did you say you did in the military?”

  Alina grinned.

  “I didn’t,” she replied. “You also might want to take a good look at the tire marks. I think you will find that they were made by two vehicles, not one.”